Date: Wed, 11 Mar 1998 12:17:57 -0800 (PST) From: Brian Beattie <Brian_Beattie@Atlas.com> To: "Roger P. Johnson" <rpj@fep.hirshfields.com> Cc: questions@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: HELP! on drive Geometry and I just can't get it! Just can't! Message-ID: <Pine.BSF.3.96.980311120953.25442E-100000@coyote.prepaid.atlas.com> In-Reply-To: <199803111709.LAA00595@fep.hirshfields.com>
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On Wed, 11 Mar 1998, Roger P. Johnson wrote: > Hi, > > I must say that I am frustrated as hell on this one. I have been > trying off and on for the last 6 months trying to install FreeBSD 2.2.2 > onto a Seagate 1 GB SCSI-2 HD using Adaptec's 2940 or 2940AU card. > ... > > Here is a brief summary of my "experiences" ... > > 1. FreeBSD, > Adaptec 1542 SCSI ISA, > Seagate 1GB HD, dedicated > > installs AND WORKS FINE - alright! > > (I have 12 machines using the 1542, I wish to upgrade them > to the 2940 PCI series controllers) > > 2. FreeBSD, > Adaptec 2940U FAST SCSI-2 PCI, > Seagate 1GB FAST SCSI-2 HD, dedicated FreeBSD partion > > installs but cannot boot due to geometry problems and the > message 'Read error'. > ... > When I did a "shared" disk installation with DOS and FreeBSD, I wrote down > the output of 'fdisk' and 'pfdisk' so I could get the proper geometries. OK. > They report the drive as 1010/64/32 (translation turned off). Try setting > the geometry to this on the next install process in the partion editor, > dedicate the whole drive to FreeBSD and bam! back to square one again. > > > > I would really, really, really, did I say really?, be appreciative if someone > would take the time to answer this, or give their own experiences, or give > pointer to who I could talk to so I can get this resolved, or any RTFM's! > ... > > I know, there are people out there using Adaptec 2940, 2940AU's on their > systems, but what makes it so dang hard with these 1 GB drives I don't know, > ... I just don't know ... > > I guess I will probably have to stay with FreeBSD, 1542, and the 1 GB drives > already installed. Doesn't matter whether the drives are brand spanking new or > 2 years old. Same problem. > I have sen similar problems. I am prety sure the problem is that the 1542 and the 2940 bios'es use different geometries. The solution is to be sure that you fdisk the disk, on the controller you will use the disk on, with the geometry that that controller will use. In line with my policy of "if at first you don't succeed, get a bigger hammer" the following. Install the 2940 and connect the disk. using ^A go into the SCSI Utilities and format the drive. boot off the install floppy and install. I believe this should work. PS. I have both a 1542 and a 2940U in my 3.0 current system at home. Brian Beattie Atlas PrePaid Services Brian_Beattie@atlas.com 503.228.1400x4355 To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message
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